He was a cantor at the Great Lavra on Mt Athos. Once, on the
eve of Theophany, he was inspired to sing the hymn O full of
grace, thou who art the joy of all creation instead of the usual
It is truly meet to bless thee during the Divine
Liturgy. When he did this, the most holy Theotokos appeared to him, thanked him
and gave him a gold coin as a sign of her favor. The coin is still kept at the
Lavra. He reposed in peace. St Gregory's hymn has been sung since that time as
part of the Divine Liturgy of St Basil.